No more vacancies for teachers

THERE are no vacancies for teachers in Sabah’s public schools.

According to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun who is also the state education exco yesterday, Sabah had exceeded its quota for teachers to teach in the state by 119 people.

“The distribution of teachers may not be balanced. At some districts, there are more teachers and at others, less teachers, but we have exceeded our quota by 119 people. Nevertheless, we cannot let the (new) teachers remain without placement,” he said.

Masidi was replying to Moyog assemblyman Terrence Siambun who wanted to know about the outcome of interviews that had been carried out for graduates applying for teaching positions with the State Education Department last year.

“The candidates in Sarawak have already received their offers in March, this year. But Sabah, there is still no answer…they are disappointed,” said Terrence.

Masidi explained that the situation in Sabah and Sarawak was not the same.

He also commented that Penampang has many tourism products but the private sector must play its role to develop them.

“The government is only a facilitator,” he said.

Masidi added that his ministry had proposed that the firewood forest reserve in Sugud be developed as a wildlife reserve.

“But in order for this to materialise, we would need the support from the leaders in Penampang and from the District Office,” he said.

However, he lamented on the development of housing estates on what used to be paddy fields in Penampang.

“It is not my intention to involve myself in this … but paddy fields have become housing estates … they could have been developed as tourism attractions,” he said.

The minister also denied that his ministry had treated Penampang as a stepchild.

“Many of my people are in Penampang, so I have to look after it. I even know your entire family (Terrence Siambun’s family) ... but each district has its own committee that is supposed to present to us their finding,” he said.